One week in late October of 2012 would be written in history as one of the most devastating weeks America has ever faced. That week was when category 3 hurricane, Sandy, struck the northeast and left a trail of destruction along the way. According to a list of facts published by CNN, Hurricane Sandy resulted in the deaths of 147 people across the Northeast United States, Canada, and the Caribbean ("Hurricane Sandy Fast Facts," 2015). The damages caused by Hurricane Sandy were estimated to cost $5 billion dollars ("Hurricane Sandy Fast Facts," 2015). The sheer, destructive power of Sandy can be seen and felt through hundreds of pictures of destroyed homes and buildings. The image attached is a photograph of one of the many destroyed homes across the northeast. Harris Effron of AOL Real Estate reports the background of the destroyed home in the photograph. This house resided in Union Beach, New Jersey and was known as the Princess Cottage. The house was believed to be 150 years old at the time and half of it managed to withstand the hurricane (Effron). This photograph would become one of the most iconic images of the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This image captures the utter devastation and horror the people of New Jersey faced that week. Despite the obvious destruction, this photograph can be interpreted in a different light. This image supports the comeback nature that lies within people even in the face of destruction. Humans are the most resilient beings in this world and this photo proves the ideal through the use of subtle metaphors and specific design elements. 

The focus of the image that draws the viewer's eye is the destroyed Princess Cottage house. The left half of the house is completely destroyed, while the right half remains intact. The house, itself, is seen as a metaphor for the resiliency of humans. Even after experiencing a horrendous event as Hurricane Sandy, the people survived one way or another. The unharmed side of the house is the side of the people that is still standing after the storm. On both sides of the house, there are two trees that do not seem to be too badly harmed either. These two trees are also metaphors that convey the same message that the house does. In the aftermath of the storm, those two trees are still standing as well, signifying that humans can withstand extraordinary loss and not be broken. The house and the two trees are examples of how the human spirit remains unbroken through tough times and we believe that we can make it through. The image speaks through these metaphors concerning physical loss, but it also speaks resiliency from loss mentally as well.

In the place of where the left side of the house originally was, is its rubble. The rubble consists of the house's bricks, wood, foundation, window frames, and more. Considering that the house was over 100 years old, all of the things that made up it were very old as well. The rubble is a metaphor for the things in people's past that they should let go. Lettings go of the past is one of the most difficult challenges that a person can face. It is a challenge he or she may not recover from. However, without properly letting things go, that person is just stuck in a continuous loop of the past and does not move on with life. The destroyed rubble is the result of finally letting the past go and the standing half of the house is seen as looking towards the future. The metaphor of the rubble and the metaphor of the house again shows humans are capable to come back from anything with the proper effort and mindset. The house is one element of the image that is viewed as good things to come, but there are specific elements of design that convey the same message of resiliency. 

The photograph has design elements that all speak that better things are to come and to always look up towards them. In the background of the image is the skyline of the city. This particular line separates the destruction in the foreground and the city and sky in the background. Even though there is evident destruction in the foreground, the background appears to be fine. A sort of calmness after the storm is felt in the background and can be seen as good things on the way. There is a noticeable color contrast in the image as well. On the right side of the picture, all of the colors appear to be dark and shadowy. The colors become noticeably brighter as the picture is viewed from right to left. This color contrast is seen as the expectance of a brighter future to come. Even the way the picture was taken in that specific angle speaks the hope of a better future. The picture seems to be taken from the ground up and at an angle to see the interior of the house on the broken side. If the picture is viewed diagonally up from the left to the right, it gives a sense of keeping your head up. The dividing line, color contrast, and the photo angle all convey the sense to bounce back and remain hopeful for the better future to come.  

Natural disasters, such as Hurricane Sandy, are a prime example of the human nature to bounce back from destruction, but history has shown human resiliency beyond that. This world has witnessed countless heartbreak, terror in wars, and thoughtless bloodshed. All of these situations depict nightmarish scenes that leave people wondering if they can really recover from them. History shows that they did and it results in continuous growth and understanding of human nature. A person will always have to face tough times, it is all a part of life. However, he or she will never have to face them alone. The resiliency of humans comes from each other and together, people will always make it through. The ability to come back from anything and believing that you can is what makes us human. 

